Fix ‘zsh command not found’ error with Supabase CLI

What’s Up With ‘zsh command not found’ and Supabase?

Hey there, fellow developers! Have you ever been super excited to dive into your next big project with Supabase , typed supabase start or supabase init into your terminal, and then been hit with the dreaded “zsh: command not found: supabase” error? Ugh, it’s a real buzzkill, isn’t it? Trust me, you’re not alone. This is one of the most common hiccups developers face, especially when setting up a new environment or after a system update. The Supabase CLI (Command Line Interface) is an absolutely critical tool for local development, managing migrations, interacting with your Supabase project, and so much more. Without it, you’re essentially flying blind, unable to leverage the full power of Supabase from your command line. So, when your shell, which in many macOS and Linux setups is zsh , throws this message at you, it’s essentially saying, “Hey, I looked everywhere I know to look, and I just can’t find anything called ‘supabase’ to run.” It’s not that zsh is being mean, it’s just following its instructions! This issue typically boils down to your shell not knowing where the supabase executable file is located on your system. It’s like asking someone to fetch a tool, but not telling them which toolbox it’s in. The good news is, this problem is almost always fixable, and usually, it’s something relatively straightforward once you know where to look. We’re going to walk through all the common culprits and get your Supabase CLI back up and running smoothly so you can focus on building awesome stuff.

Understanding the ‘Command Not Found’ Message

When zsh says “command not found,” it means it has searched through all the directories listed in your system’s PATH environment variable and couldn’t locate an executable file named supabase . Think of your PATH as a list of treasure maps, and zsh is the explorer. If the map to the supabase treasure isn’t on its list, it can’t find it! This could be due to a few reasons: the Supabase CLI might not be installed at all, it might be installed in a location not included in your PATH , there might be a typo in your installation, or perhaps your shell’s configuration files (like ~/.zshrc ) aren’t properly set up to include the necessary directories. For developers, especially those juggling multiple tools and languages, managing these environment variables can sometimes feel like a dark art, but with a bit of systematic troubleshooting, we can demystify it together. Getting this error fixed is the first step towards a seamless local Supabase development experience, allowing you to mock your database, run migrations, and interact with your project without any annoying roadblocks.

Why Your Shell Can’t Find Supabase: Common Causes

Alright, so you’re seeing the dreaded ‘zsh command not found: supabase’ message. Let’s break down why your shell might be having trouble locating the Supabase CLI . Understanding the root causes is half the battle, folks! Once we pinpoint the reason, the fix becomes much clearer. More often than not, this issue isn’t about the Supabase CLI itself being broken, but rather about how your system is configured to find and execute commands. It’s a common system-level problem that many developers encounter with various command-line tools, not just Supabase. So, let’s explore the typical suspects that lead to this frustrating error message.

The PATH Environment Variable: The Usual Suspect

The most frequent culprit behind the command not found error is an improperly configured PATH environment variable. Imagine your PATH as a directory of all the places your shell should look when you type a command. If the directory where your supabase executable lives isn’t listed in this directory, your shell won’t find it, simple as that! This can happen if the Supabase CLI was installed to a non-standard location, or if your shell’s configuration file (like ~/.zshrc ) hasn’t been updated to include the correct path. Many installation methods (like npm global installs or direct binary downloads) place executables in directories that aren’t automatically part of every user’s PATH . So, even if the supabase program is sitting right there on your hard drive, your shell doesn’t know to go looking for it in that specific spot. We’ll dive deep into how to inspect and fix your PATH in the next section, but for now, just know this is probably the number one reason you’re seeing this error.

Incomplete or Failed Installation

Sometimes, the issue is even more fundamental: the Supabase CLI might not have been installed correctly in the first place, or the installation process might have failed without you realizing it. This can happen for a variety of reasons – perhaps a network glitch interrupted the download, or permissions issues prevented the installer from placing files where they needed to go. If the supabase executable file isn’t actually present on your system, or if it’s corrupted, then naturally, your shell won’t be able to find or run it. It’s always a good idea to confirm that the installation was successful and that the executable file genuinely exists somewhere on your machine before digging into more complex PATH issues. We’ll show you how to quickly check for its presence.

Shell Configuration File Woes ( .zshrc )

For zsh users, the ~/.zshrc file is your shell’s brain. It’s a script that runs every time you open a new terminal session, setting up your environment, defining aliases, and crucially, configuring your PATH . If there’s a problem in this file – a typo, a conflicting command, or if the line that adds the Supabase CLI ’s directory to your PATH is missing or incorrect – your shell won’t be able to find the supabase command. Sometimes, people manually edit this file and introduce an error, or perhaps an automated installer didn’t add the necessary line. We’ll need to open this file up and make sure it’s correctly telling your shell where to find Supabase.

Multiple Node.js Versions or Version Managers ( nvm , asdf )

If you’ve installed the Supabase CLI using npm install -g supabase and you’re also using a Node.js version manager like nvm or asdf , this can introduce another layer of complexity. These tools dynamically change your PATH to point to the currently active Node.js version’s binaries. If you installed Supabase CLI with one Node.js version active and then switched to another, the global npm packages associated with the previous version might no longer be in your active PATH . This means the supabase executable, even if correctly installed, becomes